Description
Baked Spaghetti with Cream Cheese is a delightful dish with creamy texture and rich flavors. This easy recipe combines ground beef, marinara, and cheeses for a comforting meal that is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus an additional 2-3 teaspoons if needed to coat the drained pasta for easier mixing
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1½ teaspoons italian seasoning blend divided, ½ teaspoon for ground beef and 1 teaspoon for cream cheese and pasta mixture
- ½ teaspoon salt plus additional for salted pasta water
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups jarred marinara sauce 28-ounce jar MIDS brand Traditional flavor used
- ½ pound spaghetti noodles
- 8 ounces block style cream cheese, cubed, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
- 8 ounce block whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded about 2 cups; Galbani brand Italian style used
- Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick oil spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and add ground beef, ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5-6 minutes until no pink remains, then drain excess fat.
- Add marinara sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low, simmer for another 10 minutes while preparing the pasta, then remove from heat.
- In a pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti noodles for 9-11 minutes until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and transfer it to a bowl. Mix in cream cheese, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until well combined, adding olive oil if needed to prevent sticking.
- Spread 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of the baking dish, then add the spaghetti mixture and top with remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle parmesan and mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
- Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh parsley and serving.
Notes
You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for a different flavor.
Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms for extra nutrition.
This dish can be prepared ahead of time and baked when ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg